Collecting Antique Naval Prints - Capture of La Gloire, April 10th 1795

Another exceptional aquatint print from James Jenkins The Naval Achievements of Great Britain.  The Action of 10 April 1795 was a minor naval engagement during the French Revolutionary Wars in which a squadron of French Navy frigates was intercepted by a British battle squadron under Rear-Admiral John Colpoys which formed part of the blockade of the French naval base of Brest in Brittany.​

In this illustration, British maritime painter Thomas Whitcombe captures the intense battle preceding Britain’s victory in the “Action of 10 April 1795.” The French Revolutionary Wars (1792-1802) and Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815) saw many naval engagements between Britain and France. In this skirmish, a group of French Navy frigates were intercepted by a British battle squadron. The French ships split up, but after a pursuit and fierce battle by Britain’s HMS Astraea, La Gloire was seized.​

Above:  Capture of La Gloria, April 10th 1795. Published June 1st 1816 at 48 Strand for J. Jenkins Naval Achievements.  From The Naval achievements of Great Britain and Her Allies from 1793 to 1817 by J. Jenkins.

Excerpt from the written account as published: 
CAPTURE OF LA GLOIRE, APRIL 10, 1795.
THE following is an extract of a letter from Rear-Admiral Colpoys to Evan Nepean, Esq. Secretary to the Admiralty, dated on board his Majesty's ship London, at Spithead, April 16, 1795:
Please to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty of my arrival here with his Majesty's ships under my command. That on the 29th March, Le Jean Bart, a French corvette of 20 guns and 120 men, bound to Brest, was captured by his Majesty's ships Cerberas and Santa Margaretta. She had been charged with dispatches from the French minister in America.
That on the 30th, the Robust recaptured the Caldicot of Chepstow, for Barcelona, bound to She was taken 18th March, off Cape St. Vinecent, by six French ships of the line, two Guernsey.

That on the 10th instant, we discovered and gave chase to three French frigates, which soo shaped different courses. I made the signal to follow the two which pointed most to the westward. The Astrea, Lord Henry Powlet, with his aceustomed promptitude and attention, kept after the largest and seemingly best goer of the three, with which he closed about ten o'clock at night, and obliged her to surrender after a well-fought action of fifty-eight minutes, which does great credit to his lordship's good conduct.
The particulars are in his lordship's letter to me, which accompanies this.

COLPOYS.
(Signed,)
P.S. The Robust joined me off the Isle of Wight. Captain Thornborough reports, that La Gentille, of 40 guns, was taken on Saturday last by the Hannibal, but that La Fraternité escaped.
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How to Identify the Prints:
The original prints from "The Naval Achievements of Great Britain. From the Year 1793 to 1817" are aquatint engravings on a medium weight wove paper.  All the plates identify at bottom left Painted by T. Whitcombe and bottom right T. Sutherland (sculpt) who produced the aquatint engravings.  Some plates were engraved by Jeakes and Bailey after Whitcombe.  Each plate is accompanied by text pages describing the action, often with lists of ships captured or sunk, and excerpts from contemporary bulletins, dispatches, letters, and speeches.  The first edition appeared in 1817.  Early issues have watermarks of J. Whatman with the undated watermark IIS&S  on some plates. The vignette title page was uncoloured in the first issue.  The approx engraved image area of the plates are 7" x 10.25" (175mm x 260mm). Engraved plate mark area is approx 8.5 x 11.75 (215mm x 300mm). The folio sheet size is approx 11.5" x 14" (290mm x 355mm).

You can see more prints from Jenkins The Naval Achievements of Great Britain, From the Year 1793 to 1817 HERE.  If you're interested in a specific print and you cannot see it on my website please feel free to message me